New recycling plant creates cash from trash

Anne M. Amato

Updated 12:03 am, Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Workers pick out items from the "Amazing Green Machine" , a single stream recycling facility, at Winters Bros. Waste Systems, CT in Shelton, Conn, on Monday. April 22, 2013. The machine was unveiled by the company on Earth Day.
Photo: BK Angeletti, B.K. Angeletti

Recyclable items filter through the "Amazing Green Machine" , a single stream recycling facility, at Winters Bros. Waste Systems, CT. in Shelton, Conn, on Monday. April 22, 2013. The machine was unveiled by the company on Earth Day.
Photo: BK Angeletti, B.K. Angeletti

Recyclable items filter through the "Amazing Green Machine" , a...

Recyclable items filter through the "Amazing Green Machine" , a single stream recycling facility, at Winters Bros. Waste Systems, CT. in Shelton, Conn, on Monday. April 22, 2013. The machine was unveiled by the company on Earth Day.
Photo: BK Angeletti, B.K. Angeletti

Local and state officials visited Oliver Terrace for the unveiling of the "Amazing Green Machine," a $15 million facility that processes and bundles single-stream recyclables.

Single-stream recyclables, such as glass, plastic, metal and newspaper, once had to be separated, but are now handled together.

"This machine represents the most innovative single-stream recycling technology in the state," said Joe Winters, chief executive officer of Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Connecticut. "This is a $15 million investment we made ourselves because of the value it brings to our community and to the state."

The new facility created construction jobs and about 30 full-time positions at the plant, Winters said.

The unveiling took place on Earth Day, which company officials said was an appropriate day for the event.

"Recycling has come a long way in the last 43 years, and with the private sector and communities working together, you can only imagine where it will go in the next 10 years," Winters told dozens of people in attendance. "And with facilities like this in place, we will be able to reach the governor's goal of 42 percent recycling sometime in the near future."

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said if the state reaches that goal, it would add 5,000 jobs, $250 million in payroll taxes and $59 million in additional tax revenue.

"All of that while making the environment cleaner," Malloy said. "It's a win-win situation."